Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Caramel or Fudge-Drenched Vanilla Cakes


Wendy of Pink Stripes chose this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe, rum-drenched vanilla cakes. We don't do alcohol so I had to figure out a way to take out the main flavor component and make this fabulous. The answer to any question, of course, is always chocolate. But I've learned that not everyone likes chocolate (I know, can you believe it?) So I made caramel sauce to go along for those who eschew chocolate.

I've posted my hot fudge and caramel recipes before so I won't go over the preparation for those again (but they're both fabulous, especially the hot fudge). I made these cakes, the hot fudge and caramel before I went to work. And I didn't get up at 3. That's how easy all of the recipes are.

In fact, the preparation was so easy and yummy that I hardly remember any details...and I just made this it week! I bypassed poking holes in the warm cakes and pouring the sauces over them, but I think they would be delicious with the caramel sauce infused into the cake. I'm going to try the recipe like that next time.

If you'd like to see what the other TWD bakers did with this one, you can find links to their posts here. And now for a self indulgent picture of Pearl and Joy:


Pearl (on the left) is 10 months old and Joy is a year old. It doesn't really show in this photo but Joy is dwarfed by Pearl.

25 comments:

Nancy/n.o.e said...

Great looking cake, Leslie, but the kitties are the best thing in your post! Too cute the way they are cuddled up. I love the sound of chocolate and caramel sauces with that cake - I'll take both on mine!

chocolatechic said...

Have you ever used rum flavoring?

It is a great substitute.

And no........I can not believe that some people don't like chocolate

Paula said...

Oh my goodness. Your cats are beautiful but I'm especially wowed by Pearl. She is just gorgeous.

It was nice the cake was so easy this time. Sauce was a good idea so people can take it or leave it.

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

An admirable cake, Leslie. Chocolate and caramel.......what could be better?

Kimberly Johnson said...

Your cake sounds yummy with the sauces! Cute kitties!

Kayte said...

Love the cake...without the chocolate draped all over it! LOL...you knew I would say that, right? Mark would love your version, that's for sure. Such a cute photo of the kitties...I bet they missed you when you were gone. When I go out and come back, the dogs are always thrilled to see me, jumping up and making sweet little yips, etc. The cat just stares at me like "About time you showed back up here." The cat rules the house and everyone in it. No one messes with Sophie. She is a sweetheart, and at 17, probably bound for other venues in the not too distant future...she will be greatly missed.

Hanaâ said...

Ooh that looks tasty. Caramel-drenched vanilla cakes certainly has a nice ring to it! The cake itself looks pretty fluffy (not dense like pound cake). How would you describe the cake?

PS: your cats look cute! :o)

Madam Chow said...

Love those kitties! And I have definitely bookmarked your hot fudge recipe for future reference!

Mimi said...

Love your cats and your cake. Caramel and chocolate look like the perfect touch.
Mimi

Tia said...

i got distracted by how cute your kitties are! aww>>> i'ma huge cat lover

Hindy said...

Both your sauce recipes sound great. I hope to try them.
Your kitties are lovely!

TeaLady said...

i WANT a cat. I want to be owned by a cat. But my two dogs rule this house.

Caramel and chocolate drizzled on vanilla cake. Wowza!!

Anonymous said...

How about infusing it with caramel and topping it with chocolate? No need to pick just one!

Your cats are beautiful! I hope they get along as well as they appear to.

Cakelaw said...

That hot fudge sauce look spectacular!!! This was a fab cake too.

Mags @ the Other Side of 50 said...

Top mine with hot fudge and all will be well with the world.

Katrina said...

THAT is what I'm talkin' about--chocolate!

Anonymous said...

I like chocolate, but I love caramel. A caramel infused cake sounds awesome. I was just in San Jose this past weekend. Beautiful weather! Thanks for baking along with me.

spike. said...

aw, cute kitties- they look like good friends. I'm still amazed that not everyone likes chocolate! crazy. I'll take one slice with chocolate and one with caramel please.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Leslie..this is so up my alley! I'm a vanilla cake girl (white or yellow) and a drizzle of fudge is the only chocolate I would want on it! Also..your kitties are adorable..great photo!

Mary said...

Yup, I'm one of those people who don't love chocolate, but that cake drenched in hot fudge sauce looks pretty amazing! And the kitties--so cute!

margot said...

Chocolate and caramel, yum! Adorable kitty pictures, looks like they are best friends.

Susan said...

I'll bet the chocolate was delicious on this cake!! Great job! Love your kitties! Too sweet!!

Oh, I got my bowls today!!! Yeah!!! Thank you so much! :)

Valerie Gamine said...

I wish I had though of adding some form of chocolate to this recipe...next time.
Your cake slice looks so buttery and moist!
Your cats are gorgeous! Such a nice variety of colours between them.

AmyRuth said...

Such sweet little kitty kats. I love that. I loved the cakes. I don't care what you put on them or not, I think they are pretty yummy. Beautiful.
AmyRuth

Di said...

Oooh, I bet caramel was fabulous with this cake. I'm going to have to try that.